L'Oréal USA recently announced the recipients of its 2022 For Women in Science (FWIS) Fellowship, an annual program that awards five female postdoctoral scientists grants to advance their research. This year's Fellows focus on biomedical engineering, ecology, mathematics, microbiology, and neuroscience. Since 2003, the L'Oréal USA For Women in Science program has invested nearly $5 million in the work of innovative women scientists.

The 2022 L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellows include Sikoya Ashburn, whose research in neuroscience at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, focuses on the cerebellum, a structure at the back of the brain, to understand how it operates within neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and provide steps toward targeted treatment to help with the management of brain disorders.

Sarah Burnett, whose research in mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles, focuses on the flow of particle-liquid mixtures. Understanding how fluids behave when solids are incorporated is crucial for various applications such as mining, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and landslides.

Marina LaForgia, whose research in ecology at the University of California, Davis, focuses on the seed dispersal of plants to help determine which species will be most vulnerable to environmental change.

Sandya Subramanian's research in biomedical engineering at Stanford University addresses at-home management of chronic migraine and Parkinson's disease through the development of wearable monitoring systems that track unconscious functions like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and pain responses.

Margot Wohl, whose research in neuroethology and microbiology at Johns Hopkins University focuses on the egg-laying behavior of mosquitoes to understand how to control the growing population rate of mosquitos better and slow the spread of deadly mosquito-borne diseases.

"L'Oréal's commitment to the cause of women in science runs deep. Today, our company continues its proud heritage of advancing scientific knowledge in our industry with a scientific workforce in the US comprising 70% women," said David Greenberg, L'Oréal USA's CEO and President of North America. "We are thrilled to recognize the remarkable 2022 class of L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellows and showcase their work across various fields. Their work is critical to solving our biggest societal challenges today and inspiring the next generation of women in STEM."

The US For Women in Science Fellows program embodies L'Oréal's belief that the world needs science, and science needs women. The program seeks to build a community of women at the postdoctoral level and empowers them to continue their research, attain leadership positions, and serve as mentors for the women and girls who follow in their footsteps.

"This year's L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellows exemplify all we aim to celebrate and accomplish with this program. We believe it's imperative to create these opportunities and drive visibility to women in STEM for the next generation of girls and young women," said Marissa Pagnani McGowan, L'Oréal's Chief Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Officer for North America. "Every contribution by women in STEM is a powerful reminder that the world has been served well by supporting women at these critical junctures in their careers."

L'Oréal USA recognized 2022 For Women in Science Fellows at an awards ceremony hosted by CBS Evening News Anchor and Managing Editor Norah O'Donnell at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. on Thursday, November 3rd.

The ceremony serves as a capstone to a week-long program of events and engagements for the For Women in Science Fellows; earlier events in Washington, D.C, include:

Now in its 19th year, the U.S. For Women in Science Fellowship Program has recognized 95 postdoctoral female scientists and invested nearly $5 million in the work of innovative female scientists, supporting the advancement of critical research in fields as diverse as neurobiology, metabolic diseases, physics and material science, integrative biology, and biomedical engineering.

The program is the U.S. component of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards, a global program created in 1998 that recognizes and rewards women scientists worldwide. Since its inception, the international program and the nearly 50 national and regional programs have collectively supported and raised the profile of more than 3,900 female scientists from 110 countries.

The candidates for the U.S. For Women in Science Fellowship Program is evaluated based on their intellectual merit, research potential, scientific excellence, and commitment to supporting women and girls in science.

The L'Oréal USA fellowship program includes a requirement to ensure recipients are committed to serving as role models for younger generations. Applications were reviewed by experienced scientists in the candidates' respective fields through a partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which manages the application and peer review process.